Alan Bullion thanks the voters of Sevenoaks

The 2010 General Election took place against a backdrop of volcanic ash and eruptions from the Greek economy. The first ever live TV debates took place, transforming the context of the debate, with young voters turning up at the polling stations asking where Nick Clegg was on the ballot paper.

This was an amazing contest by any accounts. A turnout of over 70% with voters queuing and being locked out of polling stations up and down the country. Much talk of hung parliaments and real political change. 'Kingmaker' Nick Clegg becoming as well known as David Beckham from one national TV debate.

And yet, what really changed? I had tramped the length and breadth of the Sevenoaks constituency over three years talking to thousands of local voters, yet, on the final day, the vast majority voted on national issues and confirmed their existing political persuasions. However, the large swings in favour of sitting Tory MPs in West Kent were more an affirmation of the majority wish to get Gordon Brown out of Number Ten than a positive proclamation in favour of Cameron's New Conservatives. There is much dissatisfaction with the performance of the local Tory MP and the complacent Conservative-run District Council, particularly from the villages surrounding Sevenoaks.

It was also not an internet election, unlike the US Obama campaign, in contrast to the predictions from bloggers. I used Facebook, Twitter and websites extensively. These may have reached some new younger voters, but the vast majority continued to receive their information from TV, radio, newspapers, and of course, the many Focus leaflets we delivered over the months running up to polling day.

May I thank all of those who voted for me on May 6, and helped in any way, no matter how small, during the election campaign. I hope to see some of you again at a future social function. You main priority now is to focus on the next local council elections, scheduled for May 2011, and work hard over the next 12 months to secure a resounding Lib Dem success in Sevenoaks and Swanley.